Ecija police arrests 3 for loose firearms, drugs

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — The Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO) has arrested three suspects who were in possession of loose firearms and illicit drugs during three separate operations on Sunday.

According to NEPPO Provincial Director Police Col. Ferdinand Germino, the Cuyapo Police Station, 2nd PMFC, and 303rd MC-RMFB3 executed a search warrant that led to the arrest of alias Karag, a 45-year-old resident of Barangay Bonifacio in the town of Cuyapo.

The police seized from the suspect a caliber .22 long rifle pistol, an improvised magnum caliber .22 revolver, and magazine assemblies and ammunition for the said firearms. The search warrant, issued by RTC Branch 32 in Guimba, was served in a peaceful and orderly manner, witnessed by the barangay officials of Bonifacio, and the suspect himself.

In the town of Zaragoza, the Zaragoza Police Station personnel conducted a mobile patrol along Barangay San Isidro that led to the arrest of a suspicious man walking in a dark area with a sling bag.

The police questioned the suspect, who stated that the bag contained a firearm, but failed to present the necessary documents. The 28-year-old suspect from Biak na Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan yielded a 9mm Beretta pistol along with two magazine assemblies and ammunition for the said firearm.

Director Germino said that both suspects will be charged with violations of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Meanwhile, in General Natividad, the personnel of the Gen. Natividad Police Station conducted a buy-bust operation in Barangay Balangkare Norte that led to the arrest of Raymond, a 31-year-old resident of Barangay Isla, Cabanatuan City.

The police seized 0.15 grams of suspected shabu during the operation. The suspect will be charged with violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.